John danford ripson



(No Model.)

J. D. RIPSON. GASKET HANDLE.

No. 481,531. Patented Aug. 23, 1892.

"n1: uonma wanna 00., momma, wnmmarun, n. (L

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN DANFORD RIPSON, OF THOROLD, CANADA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOHN JOSEPH FRANKLIN AND JOSEPH BATTLE, OF SAME PLACE.

CASKET-HAN DLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 481,531, dated August 23, 1892.

Application filed May 9,1892. Serial No. 432,269. (No model.)

To on whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN DANFORD RIPsoN, manufacturer, of the town of Thorold, in the county of WVelland, in the Province of Onta rio, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Handles for Caskets and Coffins, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in IQ handles for caskets and coffins; and the object of the invention is, first, to design a means whereby the handles maybe securely attached to the caskets very quickly and without the use of any screws, and,secondly, to provide a means whereby plates or escutcheon's of different designs may be readily adapted to be used with my means for attaching the handles to the caskets; and it consists, essentially, first, of pivoting the links of the handles in shanks or studs, which extend through the side wall of the casket or coffin and are secured in position, preferably, by a feather-key extending through the inner end of the shank, and, secondly, of forming on the outer end of the shank two shoulders, one of which rests against the side wall, while the other is formed at a slight distance from the side wall, so that it will cover the edges of the annular hole made in the thin metal plate or escutcheon, which extends behind and arou nd it, the whole being arranged and constructed in detail as hereinafter more particularly explained.

Figure 1 is a perspective view, partially in section, of a handle of a casket or coffin, showing my means for attaching the same to the body of the casket. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the shank. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the thin metal plate or escutcheon through which the shank extends.

In the drawings like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in each figure.

A is the handle, B the links, and O the shank, which has enlarged outer ends 0', as shown, which form a shoulder a with the 45 portion of the shank which extends through the body of the casket and a shoulder a at a short distance from the body of the casket.

D is a plate or escutcheon, which is formed in the drawings in the shape of a cross; but of course it will be understood that it might be made in any other design. The plate Dis made of thin metal and is bent down at the edges, so that they rest against the side of the casket, and thereby support the broad surface of the plate at a slight distance away from the side of the casket, thus presenting a plate which has every appearance of being solid.

E is a hole made in the plate D, through which the shank O extends.

F is a washer placed on the inner side of the wall, and G is a tapered feather-key, which extends through a slot g, made in the inner end of the shank O.

The links B are made of woven wire formed into braided endless woven-wire links, which are perfectly rigid and have trunnions 1) secured in their upper end, through which the pivot-pins Z) pass. The pivot-pins b are supported near the outer ends of the reverse U- shaped jaw c, which is flattened at c, as shown, so that the handle when being lifted up will bring the links to the horizontal and no farther.

a is a projection extending outwardly from the top of the shoulder a and designed to fit within a notch e,made into the plate D from the annular hole E. Vhen the shank is inserted through the casket and held rigidly in position by the feather-key G, it will be seen that this projection a will by extending into the notch 6 keep the plate in the exact position in which it is placed in reference to the handle. I might also form a ridge along the inner end of the shank O and form a groove in the hole made through the body of the casket, through which the shank extends, so that the said ridge would fit into the groove thus made; but I find in practice that when the feather-key is driven home that the shank is so securely held in position that there is no possibility of its turning. The shank might itself be held securely in position by having the inner ends screwed and a nut fastened on p it; but I find for cheapness that the slot and feather-key are much more preferable, in that I can much more quickly secure my handles in position by means of my shank formed as described.

It will be seen from the construction of my I00 shank, hereinbefore described, that a plate or escutcheon of any suitable design maybe used and may be got up in very thin metal and very cheaply, as there is no danger whatever of any strain upon the metal or its being pressed out of shape by the shank. It will also be understood that not only may metal be used,but,if preferable, wood may be used, either covered or uncovered, with pufied, embossed, or ornamentally-raised satin or other suitable material.

In the drawings I have shown the shoulder a as circular; but of course it will be understood that it might be square or any other shape and the hole in the plate made to correspond, in which case the projection a and notch e would be dispensed with.

From this description it will be seen that I have provided a very cheap and ready means for fastening the handles to the caskets,and oneby which Iflnd in practice thatI can attach three pairs of handles to an ordinary casket with very little more time than What is required for fastening one handle by means of screws, as now commonly employed.

Another advantage that I have is that there is no danger whatever of the handle being disconnected, as is also the case when screws are employed; nor in my construction is the symmetry of the plate or escutcheon broken in upon, as it would be by the use of screws.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. In combination with a casket, a handle having its shank passing through the wall of the casket and provided with an annular flange bearingagainstsaid wall and a thinplate of sheet metal having an opening to receive the flange and having its edges bent down a distance corresponding to the thickness of the flange, the said shank having an enlarged head overlapping the edge of the opening in the plate and adapted to rest against the face thereof, substantially as described.

2. In combination with a casket, a shank for supporting the link and handle, a thin plate of sheet metal having an opening therein with a notch in the edge thereof, and an annular flange on the shank adapted to fit the opening in the plate and provided with a projection adapted to engage the notch, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. As a new article of manufacture, and in combination with the shank 0, provided with jaws c and secured in position, as specified, the links B, made of braided endless Woven Wire formed rigid and having trunnionsin the upper ends, as and for the purpose specified.

JOHN DANFORD RIPSON. 

